A tailgate assembly is provided which rotates between in- service and out-of-service positions on a truck body of an off-road, heavy duty truck. A first tailgate rotation actuation assembly rotates the tailgate assembly between a closed, in-service position and an open in-service position wherein the load is dumped from the truck body. In one embodiment, the first tailgate actuation assembly comprises a chain connected to the tailgate assembly at a first end and operatively connected to the truck frame at a second end to rotate the tailgate assembly in response to the rotation of the truck body between the lowered and raised positions. A second tailgate rotation actuation assembly rotates the tailgate assembly between the in-service open position and the out-of-service position in which the tailgate assembly rests on the canopy of the body. In one embodiment, the second tailgate actuation assembly comprises an actuating cylinder for positioning a cam into engagement with the tailgate assembly and for exerting a rotating torque on the tailgate. The second tailgate actuation assembly also locks the tailgate assembly in the out-of-service position.
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